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Workplace 101: A Profiles Global Business Blog

The success of a business can be traced back to its leaders and the strategies they put in place. Edwin H. Friedman said, "Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future." It is important to recognize the positive and effective attributes in each leader, but it is also important to be aware of obstacles that may be looming in the distance. Successful leadership develops over time, and can only be improved when business leaders know how to diagnose and treat leadership inhibitors. Here are the seven deadly sins of leadership:

According to an article on Inc.com, the best way to get the most out of your workplace teams is to make them “long-term greedy.” This idea rests upon the fact that most people are generally fearful of losing their jobs. Fear can be the enemy of innovation and effective teamwork, because effective teamwork works best when workplace teams aren’t afraid to fail—or worse, lose their employment. So, instead of being fearful, team leadership should incent its workplace teams to look at things from a long-term perspective. The following are three ways team leadership can do that:

Here in Waco, Texas, the weather can make you feel like you’re living in a Bizarro world—70 degrees one day and snowing the next. The world of talent management can feel bizarre sometimes too—sometimes good advice seems counter intuitive. Here’s what’s trending in talent management this week.

I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest thought leaders of our time. I learn something from each of them during every interaction and (hopefully) more often than not they learn something from me as well. The range of expertise that my clients have is vast; sales, leadership, management, communications, strategy, marketing, finance, emotional intelligence, innovation, relationship development to name just a few. Someone asked me the other day what if any thing they all have in common. Great question. (I love great questions). So here’s what I think.

From a personality perspective, educational perspective, and professional background prospective the thought leaders I work with and have met couldn’t be a more diverse group. Harvard MBA’s to high school dropouts, introverts to extroverts, academics to CEO’s and founders of incredible companies and organizations, warm and fuzzy types to brutally direct and analytical. The traits that they all share are:

Mickey Mouse and Disney’s successful ventures are known worldwide. Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons, said “I went to Bali, and I was in a small village, and somebody who was with me showed a woman a little figurine of Bart and asked: 'Do you know who this is?' And she said: 'Mickey Mouse.'” That's just how strong the Disney brand is.

The view has shifted considerably in the way that employees perceive the environment of their firm. For many working individuals, a recalibration of their work-life balance is at the top of their list when reflecting on their daily demands between the office and home. This concern has become more apparent over the last year, and the entering workforce is basing some of their biggest decisions on this sole factor. Companies that have re-evaluated and tailored their workplace culture to the needs of the changing economy and workforce are securing top-talent, recognizing an increase in satisfied employees as well as customers, while noticing significant financial gains and employee engagement. Here are some exemplary ways to shift your workplace culture from the office-bound, 9 to 5 grind, to a “Cloud 9” to 5, mindset.

You may have heard that Harper Lee is publishing her second book, Go Set a Watchman, over fifty years after publishing its prequel To Kill a Mockingbird. If you haven’t read To Kill a Mockingbird, you should. However, if you have read it, you know that Atticus Finch is a good man, a good father, and a good leader. In advent of Lee’s sequel, these are the leadership lessons everyone can learn from Atticus Finch.

Team building is a great way to increase employee engagement and bring employees closer together as a unit. But like many things, team building must have a balance—too much or too little of one thing may render it ineffective. This infographic illustrates the importance and amount of team building elements, for the most effective team building experience.

Oh boy, I'm sure my brothers and sisters who have studied so hard for their SHRM CPs and SCPs aren't going to like this. Best practices are hurting talent acquisition. I know, I hear you, “but, Tim, you're an idiot, if it weren't for HR best practices, I wouldn't have discovered that tracking turnover was important!” Really? Are you sure about that?

Give me a minute to explain, because I was once just where you are today, believing best practices were the be all end all of making talent acquisition great.

Team development is imperative for the success of an organization, as it leads to higher levels of employee engagement. Team building develops and cultivates teamwork, while increasing employee engagement and morale.